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Victoria and David Beckham

 

Buddists monks upset by Beckham's mozzie measures

David and Victoria Beckham have upset Buddhist monks in Thailand.

The monks are upset about a state-of-the-art mosquito exterminator installed at the couple's recently renovated new home on the Thai island of Koh Samui.

The religious men - who believe all animals, no matter how small, are equal - have reportedly suggested the former Spice Girl and her soccer star husband find a non-harmful solution to the blood-sucking insects

A source told Britain's Daily Star newspaper: "The Beckhams were very keen to keep the mosquitoes out because they can carry disease, as well as being annoying.

"But the last thing they want to do is annoy the locals, especially the monks who've been here hundreds of years, so they've got a real dilemma now."

The Beckhams bought their three-storey hillside home on the island in 2007 for 4.5 million Euros [201,162,277 Thai Baht], but the full cost of the home after renovations is believed to be closer to 10 million Euros [447,027,282 Thai Baht].

The house is also partly environmentally friendly, utilising solar panels to create some of its electricity. It also boasts 360-degree views of the popular holiday island.

Former England soccer team manager Sven Goran Eriksson also has a home on the tropical island.

Bang Por has attracted a lot of attention from big media players in recent months. England's football superstar has bought an area of land at one end, high on a hill overlooking the bay (manager Sven Goran Eriksson already has a villa on Samui and Beckham's team mate Wayne Rooney is looking to invest here) and at the other end, Four Seasons, now owned by Bill Gates, has just opened a resort, the finest on the island, making the most of the ideal surroundings.

 

Britney Spears, Nadal to visit Samui

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By Chat Anupan   
Friday, 03 July 2009 16:22

AMERICAN pop singer Britney Spears and tennis star Rafael Nadal are coming to Samui for a holiday.

Twenty-seven-year-old Spears has reportedly chosen Samui for a much-needed rest for her and her crew after her successful "comeback tour" of Europe.

No. 1 ranking tennis player Nadal, 23, may also come to Samui in September before playing in the PTT Thailand Open 2009.

According to the Siam Rath newspaper, Spears will come to Samui for a grand vacation before resuming the last leg of her concert tour scheduled in Australia and other parts of Asia.

Siam Rath said that a list of five-star resorts on Samui was presented to Spears for her to choose from. She chose Sila Evason, which she has reportedly agreed to rent for a week for 180,000 British pounds.

However, her agent did not disclose the date of her visit to safeguard her privacy.

Foreign media, including websites (such as splashnewsonline.com) and bloggers, have also reported her trip to Samui, without any mention of dates.

A US blogger, who is a professional travel writer, said on June 16 that Spears also invited her ex-husband Kevin Federline, who has been accompanying their two sons during her recent jaunt in London, along with his girlfriend Victoria Prince, to Samui.

The Spanish professional tennis player is expected to take part in the PTT Thailand Open 2009 scheduled for Sept. 26-Oct.4 at  the Impact Arena in Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok.

According to Suwat Lipatapanlop, head of the Tennis Association of Thailand, they would arrange for Nadal to visit a destination outside Bangkok before he plays in the tournament.

They were considering Phuket, Krabi or Koh Samui, he said.

"We have not yet decided on the place. We are looking for the most suitable destination," Mr. Suwat said.

Tourism stakeholders on the island are keeping their fingers crossed that the visits of the two famous celebrities to Samui will materialize since the visits, they said, would help a lot in promoting the island's tourism.

The fact that Spears has chosen to come here proves that Samui still has that drawing power and magic as a holiday destination, they said. --
Last Updated on Friday, 03 July 2009 16:28

 

 

 

Tennis star buys Samui property


World Tennis Association number one ranked Female player Justine Henin has selected an apartment on Koh Samui to be her holiday home in Thailand.

The Belgian recently picked up a unit in Infinity Samui, a new gated low rise luxury development on a prominent hillside position with panoramic ocean views located in the Mae Nam area of Koh Samui.
The development was recently launched by Savills in Dubai with high levels of interest received.

Commenting on her purchase, Henin said: "I am delighted to have selected Samui for my holiday home in Thailand as the design and stunning ocean views provide for a truly tropical modern environment."

 

 

 

CHARTER FLIGHTS FROM CHINA - START JULY

 

A LARGE tour operator in China will open charter flights to bring Chinese tourists to Koh Samui and Koh Phangan starting July, an official of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said.

Phanu Woramit, TAT regional director in Suratthani, said the Canton Nanher International Travel Service, a leading tour agency in China, will bring in Chinese tourists directly from Guangzhou to Samui and Phangan.
The first charter flight, according to him, is scheduled to arrive in July and will continue until February next year. Later the charter flights would be increased to two per month, he added.
The tour package, lasting for four to five days each trip, will enable Chinese tourists to relax in the island beaches and enjoy the local culture, Thai cuisine and Thai fruits.

"It is a good opportunity for the tourism business on Koh Samui as it is a chance to promote the tourist attractions of the island during their visit and put up various activities and festivals to establish a good impression for the visitors," Phanu said.

If the charter flights turn out to be successful, the flight frequency would be increased to four trips a month, he said.

Not only family and senior groups are targeted but also honeymooning couples.

Previously, direct charter flights from Scandinavian and other European countries greatly helped in increasing the number of tourists on Koh Samui and Koh Phangan.

Phanu believes that the charter flights from China would help hotel and other tourism-related business owners to survive the hard times.

 

 

Britney Spears

Britney Spears and her entire entourage will be visiting Ko Samui in Thailand after her completion of her "comeback tour" of Europe, and before they all continue on to Australia and parts of Asia. She's also bringing along her former husband, who mostly works on the tour to babysit their two children.

Koh Samui Trophy 2009

 

Race Information
When: Saturday 19 September, 2009 
Location: Hotel Ibis Bophut Samui
180/10 Samui Ring Road
T.Bophut
Koh Samui, Surat Thani
84320 Thailand 
Direction : Coming soon 
Teams: Teams of 2 racers
 
Levels:

  • Extreme: for experienced racers and extremely fit competitors
  • Adventure: Suitable for Week End warriors or adventure racing newcomers

    • Disciplines:
  • Biking in the mountains
  • Woodland trails and off road running
  • Sea kayaking
  • Sea swimming and surprise obstacles along the course

    • Categories:
  • Men
  • Women
  • Mixed
  • Masters (combined age over 80 years)
  • Seniors (combined age over 100 years)

 
Duration: 3-6 hours 
Prizes: To be annouced 
Food & Drinks: Included in the race fee are:

  • Fruit basket and fried rice after the race

There will several water supply stations during the race. However, each competitor is required to start the race with at least two litre of mineral water.(see mandatory gear)
 
Schedule: Saturday 19 September, 2009
Schedule coming soon
 
Safety: The safety issue is for us extremely important. An ambulance, nurses and a doctor from the local Hospital will be on duty that day.  The race has been specially designed to allow this medical staff on the scene in a matter of minutes in case of an emergency.

Adventure racing is a challenging sport, but teamwork and good sportsmanship are integral parts of making it a safe event. Pay attention to the needs of your teammates and other teams. If someone needs help, stop and help them.

Also, please come well prepared: mentally, physically, logistically.

Safety Considerations specific to this event include: Dehydration/ Hyponatremia; Exposure/Hypothermia; Wildlife (snakes, spiders, stray dogs, mosquitoes.....); travel through rugged areas (abrasions, twisted ankles, etc).

Weather: It is expected to be hot and humid (35°C) during the day. Please prepare for weather.
 
Transportation: Transportation can be arranged to the race location.

Please contact:
Active Management Asia
02 718 95 81-82 Khun Nid or Khun Soy
 
Distances: Adventure Race designers do not like to give too many details about distances and sequences. If you know everything prior to the event, where is the adventure aspect left?


   Adventure  Extreme Units
Biking  30  45 KM
Swimming  500  1000 Meters
Kayaking  5  10 KM
Running  10  15 KM
     
Est. Total Duration  3:30  4:30 Hours

Swimming: with life jacket aiming at cooling down competitors.

Running and biking will have more than one section
(usually 2 biking and running sections).

 

 

 


 


Above distances are a rough indication only.